My Garden Plot

More than a decade ago, I had a community garden plot near the police department firing range. I learned so much from other gardeners during my time there. One of my favorite tips: Pass a thin piece of copper wire through the main stem of a tomato plant to keep it from attracting aphids. The copper changes the chemistry of the plant and makes it unattractive to the little bugs.

I had to leave that community garden because a shopping mall was going to be built on the site. Remember the song: Take paradise and put up a parking lot. That's quite literally what happened.

In the years since then, I have often thought how wonderful it would be to have a plot again. Last February, soon after I went on dialysis, I stopped by the Wild Oats Community Garden on 10th and Loma to fill out an application. A year passed, and I figured that they had forgotten about me. Then in May I got an email from the gardens, asking if I'd like a plot. I jumped on the offer.

Aaron cleared and tilled the plot, but since then I've taken care of it, watering and weeding every other day. At first I lost nine plants to racoons who were digging for grub, but recently all has been well. I've harvested green and red bell peppers, two kinds of tomatoes, and one delectable cucumber.

A storm drain project will be coming through the gardens beginning in January, and everything has to be cleared out by December. Supposedly, the garden will be given back to us by next June when the construction is completed. During those six months I'll just have to be satisfied with the four bush beans and radishes I have planted in a flower box on my driveway, as I don't have even a square inch of yard.

I absolutely love growing my own food and sharing it with my neighbors. Pretty much everyone in the world could grow even a few plants. That would make all the difference. Bring the grocery store chains and fast food outlets to their knees.